Connect

Multiple-Use Management and Corridor Sharing

2018 - Brule River Bridge - Wisconsin

The completed Brule River Bridge

The project connects the 89-mile Nicolet State Trail in Wisconsin to the 107-mile State Line Trail in Michigan. Trails are open to snowmobiling, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, all-terrain vehicles, and off-highway motorcycles.

The Florence County Forestry and Parks Department in cooperation with
the Wisconsin DNR and the Michigan DNR rehabilitated an abandoned
railroad bridge over the Brule River to connect two significant regional
trails in two different states. The 89-mile Nicolet State Trail in
Wisconsin is connected to the 107-mile State Line Trail in Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula. Both of these regional rail trails are open to
snowmobiling, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, all-terrain
vehicles, and off-highway motorcycles.

Rehabilitation of the 365-foot steel trail bridge itself was done
as a cooperative effort between the State of Michigan’s DNR and
Wisconsin’s Florence County. The north end of the railroad bridge had
burned but was deemed safe with some additional work.

The south end needed to be rebuilt. The two units of government
agreed to split the estimated $500,000 bridge rehab bill. Scope of work
included construction of a 100-foot clear span bridge to be placed on
top of the existing superstructure, and a 275’ wooden approach on the
Wisconsin side. Wisconsin’s share of the project cost included the
$126,500 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant, as well as a $179,330
state funded All-Terrain Vehicle Aids grant. Michigan’s share of the
work was also funded with RTP grants as well as ORV trail improvement
grants for a total of $40,000.

In addition to the bridge rehabilitation itself, Michigan DNR
negotiated with Pacific Union to purchase 0.85 miles of abandoned
railroad grade. A Michigan ORV grant funded the purchase of the grade
that had been unused since the 1970s. This stretch connects Wisconsin’s
Nicolet State Trail with Michigan’s State Line Trail.

The trail segments leading up to the bridge on both sides of the
river also needed to be constructed or rehabbed. Florence County staff
took the lead on this effort, resurfacing the trail in Wisconsin and
brushing and developing the trail footprint in Michigan. Ongoing
maintenance of the trail and bridge in Wisconsin is supported by
additional state funded grants under the Wisconsin All-Terrain Vehicle
Aids and Snowmobile Trails grant programs.

This project is an exemplary example of the major trail connections
that can be developed with the aid of Recreational Trails Program grant
funding. Two major regional trails were connected thanks to the
availability of these funds, and multiple state and local governments
worked cooperatively to achieve the end result.

The bridge under construction

Trail safety was greatly improved through the implantation of this
project. The trails former route included a re-route around the bridge
and the use of nine miles of shared-use roadway. Trail users are now
much safer being on a dedicated trail system.

Multiple user groups will be served by the connecting trails,
including both motorized and nonmotorized users. These trail users
include snowmobilers, ATVers, hikers, mountain bikers, and snowshoers.

Economic development opportunities are also expanded in the dozens
of communities now connected by these recreational trails, including
Gillett, Laona, Wabeno, Long Lake, and Tipler in Wisconsin, and the
communities of Wakefield, Watersmeet, Iron River, and others in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Grant funds were used to completely fund the development of this
trail connection, and the project came in UNDER budget in the end, so
the grant recipients were able to return unspent funds!